Playing the pain game

Back to work: Richmond Tigers player Daniel Jackson and Melbourne Vixens netballer Bianca Chatfield hit the pavement after the Christmas break. Source: Herald Sun

IN the age of the professional athlete, Richmond's Daniel Jackson and Melbourne Vixens' Bianca Chatfield compare a combined 25 pre-seasons at the coalface of their respective codes. Eliza Sewell reports.

Eliza Sewell: Now, you've both done a few pre-seasons, how many in fact?

Daniel Jackson: Ten.

Bianca Chatfield: I think this is my 15th.

ES: Oh, goodness.

DJ: That hurts.

BC: And I'm still going.

DJ: It hurts the mind more than the body.

BC: I often enjoy pre-season. During the season I get sick of being on court all the time and it all being just about netball. During pre-season you have a little bit of everything. It's kind of nice to mix it up.

ES: What's a story from a pre-season that sticks in your mind?

DJ: A few years ago they told us a training camp was going to be fairly relaxed, that we could bring tennis racquets and golf clubs. We met on Monday morning, I think at 5.30am, to start this camp, I think I even brought a book to read while I was away. We were standing in the gym waiting and these special operations group police officers walked in, starting ranting and raving. We all just looked at each other. We knew exactly what we were in for, four days of brutal activity. No sleep, no food.

ES: They fooled you.

BC: We went on one where we couldn't eat or sleep for 48 hours. Or they'd give you little bits of food, but you had to stay awake the whole time. I hated life. It made us stronger as a team, though, because we hated all the staff that were on it. As a team we were like, 'We're not going to let them beat us, we're not going to show that we care'.

ES: Sometimes do you think it's more mental training than physical?

DJ: It's certainly a combination.

BC: They're on par. We've done one where they took us down the Mornington Peninsula and we went to a day spa and did things like that. We thought that was heaven but we didn't do very well that year (laughing).

ES: So how much time do you get off after your season?

BC: We have to have eight weeks off, but I probably spent two, even only a week, doing nothing and the rest of it you start building up again. I also had (foot) surgery during that time.
 

ES: So you have a break, but you don't really.

DJ: It's getting harder and harder. I had eight weeks. But it's the same thing (as Bianca). We're given a full training program. I think we got 10 to 14 days of no training after the end of the season and then it's a five-day-a-week program. We've got apps that tell us what training we have to do, we've got GPS watches that measure all of our running. You just can't come back unfit any more.

BC: That's probably the biggest battle for our sports is that they tell you to go away and have a break, but you can't possibly. So mentally you don't get to fully escape.

ES: What do you dread the most about pre-season?

DJ: The long days. It's so hard to have a balanced life when at the end of a long training day you've got no energy to do anything else.

ES: So how long would your day generally be?

DJ: This morning I was at the club at 7.20am. I should have finished at 4pm, but they wrapped me up at 3pm. So it tends to be 7.30am-4pm. People will say, 'Oh that's not too hard, I work till 6.30pm'. But they go home and they've still got energy. We get home and we sit on the couch.

BC: For me, it is (that) you know once you come back in January, if you're successful in making the Aussie team as well, you won't finish until November. You've got to look after your body to make sure you get through all that way, but also it's the mental pressures of getting selected and then gearing yourself up to make the Aussie team. You're never really 100 per cent secure in your position, which you shouldn't be, either. But that's always the tough challenge.

Bianca Chatfield

Age: 30 Height: 189cm

Professional netballer - Vixens, Australia

ANZ Championship average wage: $21,000

Education: Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement) and Bachelor of Education

Other interests: Runs leadership consultancy Pivot Performance with teammate Sharelle McMahon, Australian Netball Players Association delegate

Pre-season workload: Monday-Saturday, Sunday off
3 weights, 3 on-court, 2-3 conditioning (running/bike/cardio), 1-2 rehab (pilates), 1 massage

Season starts: March 25 (14 games plus finals)

ES: What do you love about pre-season?

BC: You miss your teammates over Christmas, and really I just love getting back and hanging out with everybody.

DJ: That's a good point. I like the bonding, you spend so much time together, it's like being at school together. It's nearly a little bit sadistic, but I quite like the hard work.

ES: Is there an activity that you're really good at or that you like?

DJ: The guys would hate me to say it, but they already know it, I actually enjoy running. Everyone hates running, they just want to play footy. I don't mind a tough running session.

BC: Um ...

ES: You can say 'nothing'.

BC: Yeah, I don't really know what I love so much about it.

DJ: Massage?

BC: Yeah, the massage at the end of the day.

DJ: I kill the massage, I'm good at that.

ES: Of your teammates, who lags? Or is there someone who tries to avoid a certain activity?

DJ: Jake King cannot swim. If you threw him in the pool, he would drown. We would swim 50m before he's even finished 25m, probably 100m. He pretty much dog paddles.

BC: Karyn Howarth - this is her second year at the club, it's fair to say she hates the running sessions.

ES: And who powers through? Who irks you with their enthusiasm?

BC: Maddie Brown, she's good at everything, it kind of makes you sick. She swam the Pier to Pub, she's good at running, she's an all-round powerhouse.

DJ: It's probably Alex Rance. He's a good sprinter, he's now really good at endurance running, he's a good swimmer. He can't box, but otherwise he smashes everything.

ES: What's changed this pre-season?

BC: We've got a new coach (Simone McKinnis). She's right into being on court early and building in fitness and skills together. Normally we would be doing our running and fitness and build up to being on court, but we've been on court straight away.

DJ: Over the last few years it's become a lot more footy-orientated, which probably sounds obvious. A lot of the fitness is incorporated into drills. There's a lot more match play rather than just running the Tan. You still have to run the Tan, but just not as often.

BC: Who does it the quickest?

DJ: We've gone to Princes Park now, but I have the Tan record. I told you, I like running.

ES and BC: What do you do it in?

DJ: 12.36. I couldn't do that at the moment. Now we just do 2km time-trials at Princes Park.

ES: Why did they change?

DJ: The 3.8km (Tan distance) is unrealistic for our game now, we never really run for that distance (in a game). Even 2km is a little bit irrelevant, except that it's a good gauge of where guys are at.

BC: When I first started, we would do lots of long-distance running and it's just pointless. Our court is 30m long and we need to be powerful and quick.

DJ: What testing do you do?

BC: We've been doing the Vo2 max test on the treadmill.

DJ: I don't mind that.

Daniel Jackson

Age: 26 Height: 188cm

Professional footballer - Richmond

AFL average wage for senior player: $260,000

Education: Bachelor of Commerce

Other interests: AFL Players Association board member, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia board member, Headspace ambassador, presenter for Step Back Think

Pre-season workload: Monday-Saturday, Sunday off
3 main football sessions,  4-5 weights, 3 skills, 4 running, 2-3 cross training (swim/bike/boxing), 2 yoga/pilates, 2-3 massage

Season starts: March 28 (22 games plus finals)

ES: What is it?

DJ: You're on a treadmill with a snorkel in your mouth and you run until you can't run any more. They keep speeding it up, and eventually when it's at a speed where you can't go any faster, they start raising the gradient until you're knackered.

ES: So how long would you last on that?

DJ: People who struggle, 10 minutes. I think the longest we had was 14 minutes.

BC: And they take your blood lactate every minute, they'll prick your finger and take the blood out.

ES: So you're animals?

BC: Yeah, you are. Sometimes you do feel like that. You get your skinfolds done, everyone's poking and prodding you.

DJ: That's the scary part, the skinfolds. We just had two weeks off and everyone tiptoes around the dietitian because we have measures we have to meet, and if you've been having too many non-green tea related drinks ...

BC: ... you're in the fat club.

DJ: Exactly.

ES: So how often do you get them checked?

BC: We're monthly.

DJ: About every fortnight.
 

ES: What is your personal motto for this season?

DJ: Train smart. When you're younger, you need to push the boundaries because that's the only way you're going to catch up to all the established players, just to do more, and if you get injured, you wear it. When you get older, it's more about getting yourself right to perform.

BC: I would definitely say train smart, too. But also just to love it. You don't know how much longer you can play for, and I just really want to take in every moment that I've still got playing.

Read More..

Fledgling Crows stretch their wings

Adelaide Crows youngsters Sam Siggins, Brad Crouch and Rory Atkins. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE expects a number of its young guns to stake a claim for senior action this season after returning from a development camp that highlighted the maturity of its first and second-year players.

Luke Brown and Sam Kerridge are expected to push hard for regular berths after earning debuts in their rookie seasons last year, while Brad Crouch leads a host of untested players looking to make gains.

"Everyone wants to talk about Crouchy but there are a number of guys training well and any number of them could put their hands up and play a game here or there," Crows leadership development manager Paddy Steinfort said.

"I wouldn't be surprised if there was a second or a third- year (player) who pushed up to become a regular contributor," he said.

Adelaide took 13 of its first and second-year players on a development camp at the Gold Coast last weekend and Steinfort was impressed by the professional attitude of the young players.

"There was a bit more maturity shown from the group compared to last year, which was the thing that probably stood out," he said.

"That's a credit to the rest of the playing group ... our leaders and emerging leaders are as mature and professional as I've seen."

The Gold Coast trip - which differed from last year's development camp in that it focused more on education than physical activity - gave the players an insight on what it takes to succeed at the elite level.

They had sessions with world championship winning Northcliff Surf Lifesaving Club, London Olympics gold medal winning kayaker Tate Smith and Australian national team gymnastics coach John Curtin.

"Last year we took them out to the bush and left them for dead for a couple of days," Steinfort said.

"That was about resilience. This year they had a bit of trepidation heading up there because they thought it was going to be the same thing again, but this year it was more about looking at professionalism and developing good professional habits.

"A lot of these guys have come out of under-18s football where they're not really at the elite professional level. So we try and fast-track them into that.

"We've got a fair bit of research that shows us if we can develop their conscientiousness and these habits quicker than other clubs we're going to have a fair advantage."

WHO WENT TO THE CAMP

Rory Atkins, Brad Crouch, Nick Joyce, Sam Siggins, Luke Brown, Cameron Ellis-Yolmen, Sam Kerridge, Mitch Grigg, Rory Laird, Dylan Orval, Kyle Hartigan, Tim Klaosen and Jack Osborn.

Read More..

Will Demons go Gangnam Style?

Melbourne players are looking for some musical inspiration when they run through the banner at the MCG. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

When PSY's huge huge Gangnam Style spark the Demons into action? Source: AP

THE AFL is following the lead of professional wrestling by asking clubs to find a pre-match entrance song for 2013.

While the song is not compulsory, clubs have been encouraged to find a suitable anthem that can inspire players and fans before teams hit the field this season.

Renowned in pro wrestling circles, the entrance song is common in US sports including Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, college football and the UFC.

Richmond tested the water last season by playing Welcome to the Jungle by Guns n Roses at some matches and Melbourne is exploring the possibility of a tribal theme for 2013.

The Demons made the brave (crazy?) move of asking for suggestions on its Facebook and Twitter accounts yesterday, and both were swamped with suggestions.

What song would you like to see your club run out to? Leave a comment below

Predictably, they weren't all helpful.

The sound of an AC/DC guitar riff might get the blood pumping, but the impact would be lost when the chorus screams Highway to Hell or Long Way to the Top.

Ditto for Green Day's Wake me up when September ends and Talking Heads' Road to Nowhere while we're not sure the Yazz and the Plastic Population hit The only way is up is inspirational at any of its 4min5sec.

One fan suggested Chumba Wumba's Tubthumping in a nod to the three Demons who clashed with fans in Bay 13 on Boxing Day and several proposed the Dees use the theme song for Thomas the Tank Engine.

The harshest Facebook critic was Sam Borland, who suggested the original composition We're a pack of tanking flogs (give up already) by "various artists".

The call also attracted some left-field suggestions from artists including S-Club 7, One Direction and Enya. One fan mysteriously suggested It's Raining Men while the list wouldn't be complete without PSY's Gangnam Style.

The famous horse-riding dance would be more entertaining than the players waiting on the MCG boundary line for stragglers as cheer squad members struggle to keep the banner upright. Or maybe not.

Facebook fan Carol Taweel had this novel proposal: "No songs or music other than the theme song - they should just be concentrating on the game! But if you have to have music then only Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture complete with the sound of cannons firing! That may warn the other team off!"

But the Dees deserve points for at least asking the question. And there were plenty of more serious suggestions too.

If the winner is chosen on votes, Eye of the Tiger is the runaway leader.

Demons fans reckon the team could be inspired by Rose Tattoo's We can't be beaten and songs by
Metallica, Wolfmother, Motley Crue, Rage Against the Machine and, somewhat obscurely, the theme from the movie Transformers.

The songs will not replace traditional club anthems and Melbourne says it won't mean unemployment for the MCG bugler, a Demons fan who has trumpeted the club song, A Grand Old Flag, before the bounce in the past two seasons - news that will disappoint some.

"Why would they need another song to run out to..its a grand old flag or nothin. Just promise you will sack the bugle bloke this year," Facebook fan Jonathan Bowlbysaid.

FAMOUS ENTRANCE SONGS

Real American (Rick Deringer) - Hulk Hogan (WWE)
Hart Attack (Jim Johnson) - Brett "the Hit man" Hart (WWE)
Hell Frozen Over (Jim Johnson) - Stone Cold Steve Austin (WWE)
Already Home (Jay-Z) - Alex Rodriguez (MLB)
Stayin Alive (The Bee Gees) - Aubrey Huff (MLB)
Bad to the Bone (George Thorogood) - Jared Burton (MLB)

Read More..

SuperCoach won't be same again

Why should recruiters like Scott Clayton have all the fun? Now we can all have our own draft day. Source: Herald Sun

SAY goodbye to everyone having the same team and book in your draft party - the exciting new face of SuperCoach is here.

When SuperCoach opens on February 1, players will also be able to sign up for free for the new SuperCoach Draft game using the same login - the game will run alongside traditional SuperCoach and you can have teams in both competitions, or continue to play traditional SuperCoach only.

But players who sign up for SuperCoach Draft will be able to take the game to an amazing new level.

The biggest change is that every player is selected in a unique private league draft - which means they can be selected only once; if you take Gary Ablett with pick one, no one else in your league can have him.

So much for concerns about the same players ending up in every side.

It also makes getting the right players at the start of the season crucial - check SuperFooty in coming weeks for plenty of tips on how to do that.

SuperCoach draft also brings a new level of flexibility and customisation to the game - you can set up your league to run exactly how you want it.

Users can set up leagues of six, eight, 10 or 12 teams, choose their preferred fixture and whether to play finals or head-to-head matches, or just compete for total points.

There are seven options for team squads, ranging from 12 players to 22.

A rolling lockout every weekend is optional, and so is giving double points for your captain.

And players will also have a huge say over their league draft - which can be conducted live, automatically or in users' own time based on several formats - and trading rules.

Unlike traditional SuperCoach, there are unlimited trades in SuperCoach Draft and players can orchestrate trades between each other - but other players in their league will have the option of a veto to prevent Kurt Tippett for Jesse White style shenanigans.

If all that sounds daunting, don't worry. There will be step-by-step guides on how each option works or you can just click on the "quick start" button to create a league based on a default set of rules.

Organising a draft party with your mates is a great night in - or out; a team of sports nuts with laptops is a common sight in US sports bars and restaurants at the start of fantasy season.

The game brings new challenges and a lot more fun - this is where the real bragging rights are.

SuperCoach and SuperCoach Draft open on February 1, and drafts can be run from February 11.

Meanwhile, a new rule has been confirmed for the classic SuperCoach game, with only your best 18 scoring players to count towards your team score during the three bye rounds.

With players from six teams unavailable each week from Rounds 11-13, the new rule levels the playing field and will help avoid having your season derailed by one disastrous round.

Check out the other new rules for SuperCoach 2013 HERE.

For more SuperCoach news and tips, check out the SuperCoach Facebook page and follow @superfooty and @al_superfooty on Twitter.

Read More..

Roos to help Tassie rebuild

Looking back on Port's year of pain

Aerial photos show the destruction wrought on the Tasmanian town of Dunalley. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: The Mercury

The remains of Dunalley Primary School outside Hobart . Picture: Channel 9 Source: Supplied

NORTH Melbourne has pledged to help rebuild the Dunalley Primary School after it was destroyed in Tasmania's devastating bushfires.

The primary school was completely destroyed by the blaze which razed about 70 buildings in the coastal town 57km from Hobart.

The Roos have established close ties with Tasmania and will play two home matches in Hobart this year.

"It's obviously an extremely difficult time for all Tasmanians and we will be doing everything we can to support and assist in the recovery efforts," interim CEO Cam Vale said.

"We want to express our deepest sympathies and pass on our best wishes to everyone involved and affected by the fires."

Vale said the club's first-year players would be in Hobart next week for a training camp and the club was investigating how they could join the recovery effort.

"If we can utilise our players and coaches in some way, then we will definitely do that. All of that is still to be determined.

"Right now it's important that we stay in direct contact with the Premier, AFL Tasmania and the AFL to ascertain what the community needs and where best we can focus our efforts and energy to help the various areas and residents get back on their feet."

AFL Tasmania chief executive Scott Wade said football clubs had escaped the worst of the fires so the AFL community would rally to rebuild the Dunalley school.

On Monday Hawthorn, which also has strong Tassie ties, made a $10,000 donation to the Red Cross Tasmanian Bushfire Appeal.

 

Read More..

Video: Is this tanking?

SuperFooty analyse the match at the heart of Melbourne tanking allegations.

Jordan McMahon is mobbed by his teammates after his matchwinning goal against Melbourne in 2009. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

YOU DECIDE: These are the moments at the heart of tanking allegations against Melbourne.

Former Demons coach Dean Bailey and club officials Chris Connolly and Cameron Schwab have been asked to show why they should not be charged with offences including draft tampering in 2009.

That was the season Melbourne won just four games to qualify for a priority draft pick, which allowed the Demons to recruit Tom Scully and Jack Trengove with the first two selections in the national draft.

The club has received a 1000-page dossier containing the findings of the league's five-month tanking probe.

The AFL is understood to have interviewed about 20 people, including current and former Melbourne staff and players, about the club's on-field intentions in 2009.

Those interviews are believed to have focussed on the Dees' Round 18 loss to Richmond, when Jordan McMahon kicked a goal after the siren to get the Tigers over the line by four points.

Watch the key moves in the video player above and have your say

A review of the tape by SuperFooty has revealed several bizarre moves by the Demons' coaching box.

The most unusual was Melbourne's forward set-up at the start of final quarter, when they led by three points.

The Dees' forward line consisted of regular key defenders Matthew Warnock (full-forward) and James Frawley (centre half-forward) with top ball-winner Nathan Jones and tagger Clint Bartram in forward pockets, plus veteran Aaron Davey.

Only Davey had any history as a goalkicker. Warnock and Frawley had kicked one goal each for their careers to that point, and neither went close to adding to their totals that afternoon.

With its defenders in the forward line, Melbourne had regular forwards Brad Miller and Matthew Bate playing as onballers in the centre square. Miller (194cm) was matched up on a young Trent Cotchin (185cm).

At other stages in the game Miller played in the ruck while 199cm Paul Johnson played full-back for most of the day, opposed to Jack Riewoldt and Nathan Brown.

Brown kicked a crucial goal during the final quarter while directly opposed to the 18cm taller Johnson.

Nathan Jones outmarks Richmond key defender Jayden Post. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

Melbourne made just 47 interchange rotations that day, their fewest of the season and way down on their season average of 85.

There have been suggestions questions were asked about whether players fumbled deliberately in the dying minutes, but Melbourne kicked two goals in time-on to pinch the lead before McMahon's heroics.

And Richmond players made their share of mistakes as well.

Nathan Brown summed it up in a post-match interview: "It wasn't the greatest game in the world, but it's good to get the points."
 

Read More..

Daisy in moonboot as Pies hit track

Looking back on Port's year of pain

Collingwood train at Gosch's Paddock today. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Collingwood star Dale Thomas at training today. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD hit the training track for the first time this year this morning with Dale Thomas sporting a moonboot.

Thomas joined his teammates on Gosch's Paddock, but was restricted to stationary skills.

The star Magpie has had a very interrupted pre-season, which has hindered his fight to get himself in the best shape possible for 2013.

The midfielder, who carried the injury through the latter half of last season, underwent surgery on his right ankle late last year.

It meant he was one of a handful of players to miss the club's high-altitude training camp to Utah.

It is a setback as he looks to return to his damaging best this year following a topsy-turvy 2012.

Meanwhile, star midfielder Scott Pendlebury left the training track early today after speaking with coaching staff.

See our gallery of the Magpies in action at Gosch's Paddock today here.

Read More..

Morabito suffers fresh injury setback

Looking back on Port's year of pain

HURTING: Fremantle's Anthony Morabito (left) appeared to suffer a fresh injury setback this morning. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: HWT Image Library

LUCKLESS Fremantle midfielder Anthony Morabito appears to have suffered yet another setback after injuring his leg at training this morning.

The 21-year-old was tackling teammate Tanner Smith when he yelled out in pain and grabbed his left knee - the same knee the midfielder has had operated on twice in the past two years.

Morabito immediately slumped to the ground on all fours and put his head in his hands.

Dockers forward Michael Walters urgently signalled for attention for his stricken teammate, who was able to walk off the ground unassisted but went straight into the rooms.

Minutes later, Morabito appeared to be driven out of Fremantle Oval by coach Ross Lyon.

Morabito played 23 games for Fremantle during the 2010 season but has not appeared at AFL level since, with the midfielder twice tearing his left ACL ligament.

The young Docker had been targeting a NAB Cup return after resuming training in the off-season.

He has been mentored by coaching great David Parkin during his comeback.

More to come
 

Read More..

AFL guilty in tanking war: Thomas

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has warned anyone found guilty of tanking will "never work in football again". Source: Herald Sun

FORMER St Kilda coach Grant Thomas says tanking charges against Melbourne will blow up in the AFL's face if they end up in court.

Thomas, a vocal critic of league headquarters and CEO Andrew Demetriou, says the AFL is complicit in any rule breaking because it provided an incentive for clubs to lose.

Former Melbourne coach Dean Bailey and officials Cameron Schwab and Chris Connolly are believed to face charges including draft tampering and bringing the game into disrepute.

The AFL's tanking investigation centres on the 2009 season, when the Demons lost six of their last seven matches to finish the season on four wins and qualify for a priority draft pick.

"AFL is putting themselves into a corner with tanking saga that will eventually expose their own behavior & test their strategies legally," Thomas tweeted today.

"Any decent senior counsel would be able to rip the AFL apart in a witness box. Honorable Andy won't want to get in the box - GUARANTEED!"

Thomas said players always tried to win but officials could make decisions to reduce their chances.

He said it was impossible to prove the real motivation behind selection decisions and calls from the coach's box on game day. But he had little doubt tanking was real.

"If comp manager provides incentive for losing what do u expect? Players try but club realise greater reward is extra draft pick than 5th win."

Melbourne officials are digesting an 800-page document into  tanking allegations - and potential charges - against the club.

The documents were handed to chief executive Cameron Schwab, Chris Connolly and former coach Dean Bailey sometime before December 25.

Lawyers for the club, and Bailey's own personal representation, have been scouring the explosive allegations and must answer to interim AFL football operations manager Gillon McLachlan before the end of January.

The three parties involved must state their reasons why they should not be charged.

If the AFL does lay charges, it is likely to happen late this month, in order to give the Demons time to respond to the evidence and prepare their defence.

It is believed Bailey is facing three allegations which include tampering with the draft, not coaching to his full ability and bringing the game into disrepute in the 2009 season.

Schwab and Connolly however are only facing two charges -  tampering with the draft and bringing the game into disrepute.

At this stage lawyers plan to argue over the definition of tanking.

"The way the investigation has been carried out from a legal point of view is quite extraordinary, with some of the questioning," a source close to the Demons told Fairfax Media.

"There potentially could be a good challenge to the AFL rules. I think it's fairly fraught with danger the AFL going down this path."

The AFL investigation has centred on comments made in a Demons football department meeting run by football operations manager Chris Connolly, pictured with Dean Bailey, allegedly reminding staff about the importance of the extra draft pick. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun

Melbourne is believed to be willing to take the matter further if charged and found guilty of the offences, perhaps even as far as the Supreme Court.

While Melbourne could be hit with heavy fines or loss of draft picks, there is mounting belief the AFL would prefer to penalise individuals, rather than the club, if it is found guilty of deliberately losing games.

Former Melbourne player Brock McLean triggered the AFL investigation when he claimed in July he quit the club because it had set out to lose games in 2009.

"You can't create a good culture by going out and experimenting and trying to get draft picks and losing games of football," McLean said. "It goes against everything you're trying to do."

As revealed by Jay Clark for News Limited last week, the AFL has interviewed and re-interviewed a host of former and current officials who were at the club in 2009.

Some of the interviewees were subsequently told as many as 12 people had provided the AFL's investigators with potentially incriminating details about the club's intent throughout the second half of the 2009 campaign.

Melbourne administrators allegedly held a secret meeting in 2009 to plot their tanking strategy. The end game was to secure the first two picks in that year's national draft.

It is also believed the AFL has inquired about knowledge of a follow-up meeting between Bailey and Schwab at Schwab's house.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou previously warned any person found guilty of manipulating the result of a match would "never work in football again''.

Connolly, however, is at the centre of the storm after it was reported he reminded football officials about the importance of losing matches to improve the club's draft position.

But Robert Shaw, who was Fremantle's football operations manager when Connolly coached the Dockers, said previously that Connolly could not have been "solely responsible''.

Unusual tactical moves in the Dees' losses to Sydney (Round 17) and Richmond (Round 18) have been the subject of intense speculation.

Read More..

Suns of anarchy they are not

Gold Coast Suns young gun Harley Bennell arrested and charged over a New Year's Eve brawl in Mandurah.

Suns coach Guy McKenna denies there is a culture problem at his club. Picture: Tim Marsden Source: The Courier-Mail

SUNS coach Guy McKenna insists the club is not developing a culture problem, despite star midfielder Harley Bennell's arrest in the club's Christmas break last week adding to a series of off-field issues.

Bennell was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and failing to obey an order given by a police officer in his home town of Mandurah, south of Perth, on New Year's Eve.

The incident follows veteran Campbell Brown and then first-year players Maverick Weller, Joel Wilkinson and Jacob Gillbee being detained by police after an alleged bar-room brawl in Thailand in 2011, while defender Nathan Bock was suspended by the AFL for his part in a betting scandal in the same year.

Trent McKenzie added to the club's woes when he was suspended for turning up late to a recovery session last season following a night out.

McKenna admits slip-ups off the field were inevitable but is adamant the problem is not out of control.

When asked yesterday if a culture problem was developing at the club, McKenna replied: "Clearly not and it's not an issue whatsoever.

"When the boys go home to have a break and let their hair down, things will happen.

"You are always disappointed when your club gets shown in a bad light but the AFL, the AFL clubs themselves, coaches, senior players and all the playing group have to take responsibility and continue to drive for perfection."

The Suns will wait until Bennell's court case next Tuesday before determining if the incident will receive a club-imposed sanction.

But McKenna revealed Bennell's teammates would get the chance to air their thoughts on the matter as the club strived to be in the news more for the right reasons.

"In the scheme of things (Harley's incident) is not great but our pre-season has been good on and off the field and we will continue to move forward," McKenna said.

"The playing group will (get the chance to) air their grievances and we will come down after the court case and speak to Harley about all that.

"We want to make sure we become a club full of cleanskins and that's what you strive for."

The Suns squad resumed post-Christmas training yesterday under the watchful eye of McKenna, who is not due back from holidays for another week.

"I just wanted to see how they had come back from the break and leading into Christmas we had a really good physical block of training," McKenna added.

"Looking at the shape of them, they look pretty good."

Bock was seen jogging laps around Metricon Stadium as he attempts to keep his ambitious bid to return from a broken leg in round 1 on track.

But McKenzie was kept to light duties as the club continues to monitor his knee injury.

"He will need another one or two weeks to get over his knee injury," McKenna said.

"But round 1 is still a fair way away (March 30) and there is still a lot of time for him to get right."

Read More..

2013 club-by-club fixture preview

A mountain of hype is already surrounding Mick Malthouse's showdown with Collingwood in Round 2. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

THE Hawks twice or the Giants twice? Two trips to Perth or an array of Friday night blockbusters? Six-day breaks or a lengthy spell? These are the quirks that can define a club's season and the careers of coaches and players alike.

Over the next five days SuperFooty will bring you a comprehensive guide to the fixtures of all 18 clubs.

We start with Adelaide, Brisbane Lions and Carlton today.

ADELAIDE:

EASY GAMES:
Seven of Adelaide's away games are against non-finalists, giving the Crows a dream chance to push for another top-four finish. And expect Brenton Sanderson's mob to fire early. They don't meet a 2012 finalist until Round 6 (Hawthorn), and play just one 2012 contender in the first eight weeks. Adelaide also has no return matches against top-four sides.

CRUNCH GAMES:
The Crows host grand finalists Hawthorn and Sydney at AAMI Stadium. Pencil those in as eight-point games, while a trip to the Gabba to face the Lions in Round 2 – a fixture the Crows threw away last season with a sloppy loss – could also prove pivotal.

TOUGH GAMES:
Two trips to Perth is never easy, especially in the back half of the season. Rounds 18 and 23 the Crows head west, ending their home-and-away campaign against West Coat. Ouch. Trips to the MCG to face Carlton and Collingwood could shape as finals barometers.

ONE WITH ADDED SPICE:
The Crows will avoid a home-and-away bout with Kurt Tippett, so you can't go past the two showdowns against Port Adelaide.

SUMMARY:
Two Friday night blockbusters, including the season-opener, is a big win commercially. And it seems on the field the Crows have again hit the jackpot. Three MCG games will help come September, while the platform is there early to again

OPENING MONTH:
Round 1 v Essendon (AAMI)
Round 2 v Brisbane Lions (G)
Round 3 v Port Adelaide (AAMI)
Round 4 v Western Bulldogs (AAMI)

Follow Sam Landsberger on Twitter @SamLandsberger

Crows chairman Rob Chapman has vowed Adelaide will be a big player in the free agent market next year. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: Herald Sun

BRISBANE LIONS

EASY GAMES:
The Lions will back themselves to take six wins from six games against the Dogs, Dees and Suns. A stretch of late-season games against the Suns, Roos, Dees, Port, Saints, Tigers, Giants and Dogs will define whether Brisbane is a legitimate finals contender. Only four six-day breaks is an added bonus and should keep Michael Voss's side fresh.

CRUNCH GAMES:
Home games against sides in the bracket one up from Brisbane will prove pivotal. The Lions host North Melbourne, Carlton and St Kilda and must start winning those encounters to take the next step.

TOUGH GAMES:
Plenty. Fremantle in Perth, Geelong in Geelong, Collingwood at the MCG and Sydney at the SCG. The Lions also travel to Tasmania to face Hawthorn and host West Coast at the Gabba. But, Brisbane did knock off the Eagles at home last year and will take confidence from that.

ONE WITH ADDED SPICE:
Nothing stands out, but Stefan Martin and Brent Moloney will enjoy heading back to the MCG to face the Dees in Round 5. The Q-Clashes should step up a gear if Gold Coast can become competitive more often than not.

SUMMARY:
A blow to the old Fitzroy fans with just four games in Melbourne and one in Geelong. Particularly when the Lions requested six games in Melbourne. But a clutch of games against lowly sides and a soft run to the line will please Voss.

OPENING MONTH:
Round 1 v Western Bulldogs (ES)
Round 2 v Adelaide (G)
Round 3 v Gold Coast (MS)
Round 4 v North Melbourne (ES)

Sunday Mail - Lions v Suns AFL at the Gabba Photo - David Kapernick Picture: David Kapernick Source: HWT Image Library

CARLTON:

EASY GAMES:
The Blues cashed in seven of their first eight games in Melbourne, although there are some tough opponents in there. Collingwood is the sole 2012 finalist the Blues face twice, while they have doubled-up against Port Adelaide. Carlton also finishes with the Power, Dogs and Suns inside the final six rounds. Here's hoping the late-season trip to Metricon Stadium goes better than last year.

Bold 2013 predictions: Saints to slide, Tigers to rise and a surprise Blues skipper

CRUNCH GAMES:
Plenty, starting with Richmond in Round 1. In fact, the opening five weeks will set the tone for Carlton's debut year under Mick Malthouse. It reads; Tigers, Pies, Cats, Eagles (away), Crows. If the Blues can scramble to a 3-2 start you'd think they'd take it. Duels with Brisbane away and the Richmond-Essendon double late in the year should also help define Carlton's year.

TOUGH GAMES:
The Eagles away in the first month is the first real litmus test for Carlton. A three-game stretch of Hawthorn, Sydney away and Collingwood will also test just how far the new Blues have come.

ONE WITH ADDED SPICE:
Round 2. Mick Malthouse v Collingwood. Is there a game the football world is more eagerly anticipating than that? She'll be an absolute corker in front of a packed MCG on a Friday evening. Imagine Mick walking off a winner and screaming out "we're the old, dark navy Blues" against the side he steered to five Grand Finals and a breakthrough flag? Bring it on.

SUMMARY:
A challenging month early, but as the Blues said when the fixture came out, you may as well get them out of the road early. The Blues kept their 9-8 split of games between Etihad Stadium and the MCG, but will be disappointed the first Mick v Collingwood blockbuster is an away fixture. An even mix with the majority of games against sides in the middle tier.

OPENING MONTH:
Round 1 v Richmond (MCG)
Round 2 v Collingwood (MCG)
Round 3 v Geelong (ES)
Round 4 v West Coast (PS)

Carlton Training Mick Malthouse lays down the law Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: HWT Image Library

Tomorrow: We preview Collingwood, Essendon and Fremantle

Read More..

Hawks worry for Tassie

Looking back on Port's year of pain

A Tasmanian firefighters battles a blaze. Source: Herald Sun

Hawthorn CEO Stuart Fox. Source: News Limited

HAWTHORN Football club has made a $10,000 Red Cross donation to help bushfire victims at its second home base in Tasmania.

Captain Luke Hodge was among several players who spoke with chief executive Stuart Fox yesterday to express their concerns.
 
The club will visit regions affected by the bushfires and help assist the recovery effort on its annual community camp in Tasmania next month.
 
The 2008 premiers have played home games in Launceston since 2001 and last year signed up 8700 Tasmanian members. 
 
Fox yesterday expressed his sympathy and support for those affected by the disaster.
 
"The Hawthorn Football Club family wishes to extend its deepest concerns for all those in Tasmania who have been affected by the devastating bushfires," Fox said. 

 
"Many families across the state now face an enormous challenge to rebuild their lives and livelihoods, and we offer our support and encouragement in what is an extremely difficult time for the community.
 
"Our small contribution is the least we can do for a state and a community that continues to support our football club. 
 
"Hawthorn Football Club would also like to acknowledge the brave efforts of the firefighters, emergency service officers and volunteers across the state."

Read More..

Pre-season unlikely for injured Kerr

SIDELINED: Daniel Kerr is set to miss the bulk of the pre-season with a knee injury. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

ELITE West Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr could be thrown straight into the Round 1 Western Derby without playing an NAB Cup game.

Kerr, who had a knee arthroscopy last month, will be carefully managed by the Eagles throughout the pre-season as the club seeks to ready his battle-hardened body for a 13th season.

West Coast football operations manager Neale Daniher said Kerr, 29, would not require pre-season matches to be ready for the derby.

"He'll just slowly build up over January, February, March," Daniher said. "We don't think he needs to have a lot of games in the NAB to be ready to go.

"Given he's such a senior player, and played 24 games last year, all his preparation will be around building up for Round 1 AFL."

All-Australian pair Nic Naitanui (groin) and Beau Waters (hip) are the club's other significant injury worries, with Naitanui likely to miss the start of the home-and-away season.

Daniher could not say when Naitanui would be fit to play, but was confident Waters would be available for Round 1 after having hip surgery last month.

Naitanui, who made a cameo appearance at Friday's training session at McGillivray Oval for some handball drills, is hoping to start running on an anti-gravity treadmill later this month.

The Eagles will launch their season against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium in a twilight game on March 23.

Comeback pair Mark LeCras (knee) and Mark Nicoski (hamstring) are back training with the main group and are on target to resume during the NAB Cup.

It is unlikely they will play in the triangular pre-season opener against the Dockers and Geelong on February 16.

Second-year forward Murray Newman, who was thrashed by coach John Worsfold in a 2km time trial in November, is being forced to improve his aerobic capacity before he can join in full training with his teammates.

Newman jogged laps with Jamie Bennell and Blayne Wilson on Friday and was the last to leave the track as he completed a punishing cone-running drill.

The 19-year-old, who is also facing a serious charge over a nightclub incident, is likely to be mostly running for the rest of the month, away from the main group.

Midfielder Chris Masten maintained his title as the club's best runner with a narrow win in the 2km time trial at the WA Athletics Stadium on Thursday.

Masten was one of 16 Eagles who posted personal-best times as they resumed from a two-week Christmas break.

Read More..

Bookies write off Crows' hopes

Kurt Tippett leaving Adelaide will cost the Crows, the bookies say. Source: Herald Sun

KURT Tippett walked out of West Lakes and took Adelaide's premiership hopes with him, according to bookies who have turned their backs on the Crows.

Despite going within a kick of making this year's AFL grand final, Adelaide is at best fourth in the line of betting for the 2013 flag with four online agencies.

TAB lists the Crows sixth favourite behind Geelong and even Carlton which missed the top-eight altogether this season. Adelaide's cross-town rival, the Power is considered a $101 premiership longshot and is fifth favourite to win the wooden spoon at $16 behind Gold Coast, GWS, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne.

But this year's runner-up, Hawthorn, is the undisputed favourite to avenge its grand-final loss to Sydney and claim a second flag for coach Alastair Clarkson.

The underrated Swans continue to fly under the radar at $7.50 with Sportsbet.com.au to go back-to-back.

Collingwood and West Coast are the only other sides considered a remote chance of toppling the Hawks.

At the opposite end, Gold Coast is a $1.36 favourite for the wooden spoon with fellow expansion club GWS at $4.50.

The Power is fifth favourite to finish bottom at $16. However, in some good news for the Suns, their captain Gary Ablett is one of three players alongside Trent Cotchin and Jobe Watson who share Brownlow Medal favouritism.

The Crows feature prominently in other markets, with full forward Taylor Walker second favourite for the Coleman Medal behind Lance Franklin and youngster Brad Crouch third favourite for the Rising Star Award.

With the new year arriving, Sportsbet.com.au has released its forecast for everything sport in 2013.

Adelaide United might sit second on the A-League ladder but is considered third favourite to win the 2013 grand final behind equal fancies Melbourne Victory and Central Coast.

Midfielder Dario Vidosic, who was called into the Socceroos squad this month, is third favourite for the Johnny Warren Medal with Italian superstar Alessandro del Piero considered the man to beat.

The Aussies are a $3.25 long shot to regain The Ashes from England mid-year, while Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador is expected to be the man to beat in next year's Tour de France.

And with the summer of tennis beginning, men's world No. 1 Novak Djokovic is favourite to win the Australian Open in January from Andy Murray and Roger Federer.

Read More..